Automatic directional ink fountain drive



June 6, 1944. J. L. BLACKLEY ETAL AUTOMATIC DIRECTIONAL INK FOUNTAIN DRIVE 2 Sheets-Shea: 1

' Filed Sept. 19, 1942' J1me 1944- J. L. BLA CKLEY EI'AL. 2,350,580

AUTOMATIC DIRECTIONAL INK FOUNTAIN DRIVE Filed Sept 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James L. Blacklcy and William P. V. Ross, Battle Creek, Mich., assignors to The Duplex Printing Press Company, Battle Creek, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,988

17 Claims. (01. 101-350) This invention is a novel automatic uni-directional fountain drive for use in printing presses, particularly color printing presses in which th direction of rotation of the printing couples of the unit proper are subject to reversals, or wherein one of the printing couples is rotated in one direction while the other is rotated in the other direction, or both printing couples are rotated in the same direction.

Heretofore, in driving ink fountains of such printing presses various manual operations have been necessary whenever it has been found expedient. to change the direction of rotation of a printing couple, which necessitated changing the direction of rotation of the related fountain roller by manually slipping certain gears into and out of mesh and alternating them with other gear trains to impart the requisite rotary movement to the fountain roll, such procedure entailing mechanical manipulation of parts, such as ear guards and the like, and causing consequent delays and annoyance to the press operator.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a novel mechanism which eliminates the necessity of manually changing the direction of rotation of the fountain roll since the same will automatically drive the fountain roll always in the same direction regardless of the direction of rotation of the related printing couple, the fountain roll according to our invention being constantly rotated in one direction independent of the direction of rotation of the associated drive shaft which direction is generally governed by the rotational direction of the associated printing couple.

Another object of our invention is to provide a. drive of the above type which, being entirely automatic and having no parts thereof requiring manual manipulation, may be enclosed in an oil-tight casing or guard containing a lubricant so that all gearing and shafting will operate in a lubricant bath continuously subjecting every moving part to a lubricating film of oil preventing wear of parts to a considerable degree and promoting economy of operation.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1v is a diagrammatic elevational view of a printing press illustrating an arrangement of printing couples adapted to print two colors on each side of a running Web; each color being taken from separate type cylinders.

Fig. 2 is a view diagrammatically indicating another arrangement for printing four colors on one side of the running web, the four colors being taken from four different type cylinders.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing my novel arrangement of gearing in side press for driving each separate ink fountain roll.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the gearing for the fountain roll shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an expanded top plan view of the gearing shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6, Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the wedging rollers in the gears shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically a color printing press having a printing couple arranged to print two colors on each side of a running web, one printing couple consisting of the impression cylinder 2 and type cylinders 4 and 6 cooperating therewith, and the other couple consisting of the impression cylinder 3 and type cylinders 5 and 1 cooperating therewith. Each of the type cylinders 4, 5, 6 and l is supplied with ink from fountain rolls 8 mounted in the frame, and cooperating with distributing rolls in the usual manner.

In Fig. 1 the web I is fed upwardly from the bottom of the press over a guide roll a to and between the cylinders 2 and 4, and then between the cylinders 2 and 6, then downwardly between the impression cylinders 2 and 3, and to and between the cylinders 3 and 5, and to and between the cylinders 3 and I, and under guide 22 and over guide 0 at the top of the. press, thereby printing two colors on each side of the running web I so that one or two colors are printed on each side of the web I from type cylinders 4 and B, and type cylinders 5 and 1.

Changing rotative movement of the printing couples 2, 4, 6 and 3, 5, 1, is a function of color printing, principally where for the benefit of a higher grade of color Work it is found advisable as well as practical to rotate both printing couples in the same direction, one changed arrangement being illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2 in which four different colors maye be printed on one side of the running web I, the separate colors being taken from the type cylinders 4, 5, 6 and I, each type cylinder printing upon the and that regardless of whichever direction a.

printing couple is rotated it is necessary to maintain the same direction of rotation of the ink Each gear I2 meshes with a worm II mounted upon a drive shaft I which is rotated in a direction corresponding or governed by the rotation of the related printing couple 2, 4, 6, or 3, 5, I. However, any other prime source for rotating the worm gears I2 may be used.

7 In operation, when the origin of motive power of each shaft I8 is in the direction of the arrow d (Fig. 6) worm gear I2 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow 6 (Fig. 3) and. the rotation [of worm gear I2 will cause the rollers I8 of gear fountain roll 8 because of th'e'fact that the rolls 1 8 are operated in contiguity'to their respective ink scraping blades which are attached to the respective ink fountains. Heretofora: in. driving I4 to wedge into the V-shaped recesses 22 and thereby cause gear I4 to be driven in the same direction indicated by arrow e as the hub of the -worm;gear l2.

'Gear I4 will drive the meshing idler gear 2I ink fountain rolls 8 of printing presses, various manual operations have been necessary in order to change the relative rotations of the fountain rolls and their related printing couples of the press, one method being to mechanically'slip .certain gears into and out of mesh, and to alternate them with gear trains arranged to give the requithe related printing couple which governs the.

drive for the fountain roll, my, arrangement being illustrated inFigs.3to7. Y

As sh0Wn, a separate fountain roll .8 is provided foreach of the type cylinders 4, 5, 6 and I, the

shaft 8a of each fountain roll 8 having fixedly mounted thereon a pair of gears I9 and 20 which preferably are of slightly different diameters, gear 28 being the larger. Disposed parallel with each shaft 8ais a bushing I3a (Fig. 6) carrying a worm gear I2; each bushing -I Set being mounted I upon a stud I3 (Figs 3, 4 and 5), and having a driving fit within the worm gear I2. Each worm gear I2 has. a hub extension I2a, Fig. 6,fupon which is mounted a gear I5 meshing directly with the gear28 on the fountain rollshaft 8a (Fig. 4) and a slightly'smaller gear I4 which drives the smaller gear I9 on the fountainroll shaft 8a through an idler gear 2I journaled on a stud mounted upon the-frame, such arrangement being shown in'expanded view in Fig.5.

The bores of gears I4 and I5are provided with tapered slots -;22 and '23,.-r es'pectively, diagrammatically illustrated-in Fig."7, and.op erating in said slots 22 and 23 are rollers I8 and I1, respecin the direction of the arrow f (Figs. 3 and 5) andlidljer 2| will rotate the gear I9 which is fixed upon the shaft 8a of the related fountain roll 8 in the .direction of the arrow 9 (Figs. 3 and5).

1 'While this driveis taking place the largergear 28 onfthe shaft 8a of the fountain. roll 8 which meshes directly with the larger gear I5 on the hubof the worm gear I2 will, since it necessarily rotates in the direction of the arrow g (Figs. 3 and 5), rotate the gear I5 in the direction of the arrow. 71. (Figs. 3 and 5), that is, in the opposite direction fromthe gear I4 which rotates in the direotionof the arrow e (Figs. 3 and 5).

Such back ,drive to gear I5 however isper- 'mitted since the larger ends of the inclined slots 23 for therollers I'Ifby contact with the rollers, merelymove the rollers along therewith allowing the gear I5 .to freely rotate in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow h around the hub 12a of worm gear I2. In other words, while gear I2 is transmitting motion through gears I-4 and 2 [to gear I9, the other gear, I5 is freely rotating inthe opposite direction on the hub I2a of worm ear I2.-.. a When the origin of, motive power to shaft III is reversed, or in the direction of the arrow is (Fig. 6) the worm gear I 2 will rotate in the direction of the arrow. 71. (Figs. 3 and 5) and the worm gear. I2 will now cause the rollers H of gear I5 to wedge into the inclined slots 23 of gear I5, and thereby cause the gear I5 to rotate in the same direction as the hub. I2a .of worm gear I2,

. or in the direction of the arrows h (Figs. 3 and tively, the slots of the gears I4 and I5 narrowing in opposite directions, so that the rollers- II. will lockthe gears I5to the hub I2a of worm gear I2 when the .worm I2 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig 27)., while the slots 22 of the gears direction from, the direction 101' rotation lafworm gears I2.

I4 willmerely move the rollers I3 along with the r ,5) Sincegear. I5 is in direct mesh with gear 2I onpthe shaft 8a of fountain r0118, the gear 28 will .be caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow g (Figs. 3 and 5) which is the same direction. whichthe. shaft 8a. rotates when driven through the train of gears I2, I4, 2| and I9. Meanwhile, .the,smaller geari II) will backdrive through idler gear ill to the smaller gear I4, and as aboveexplained will cause the gear I4 to rotate freely in. the opposite directionshown by arrow e around the hub I2 a of worm gear I2.

From the foregoing it is obvious that the fountain roll, ,8 will always be caused to rotate in'the same direction, i. e., in the direction of the arrows 9 (Figs. 3 and 5) independent of the direction of rotation, of the motive power impartedthrough shaft I0 to worm II, which direction is usuallyeoverned by the direction of rotation of the related printing couple '2, 4, 6 or 3, .5, 'I; and thus my arrangement eliminates the necessity. of manually changing gears or the like, and drives the ink fountain roller 8 always in the same direction irrespective .of the direction of rotation of the related printingcouple.

,, Because of the absence of the necessity of manual manipulations due to the automatic character of our fountain roll drive, the arrangement of gearing and shafting may be readily enclosed in an oil-tight guard 30 (Figs; 3 and 4) housing the gears I9, 20, 2|, l5, l4, and I2, also the worm H, said guard 30 having a stuffing box or seal 3! for the shaft l0, and said guard being secured to the side of the press frame by a bolting flange 32 with a gasket interposed therebetween. The guard 30 may be partly filled with a quantity of lubricating oil forming a bath in which the various gearsand shafting operate to lubricate every moving part of the drive, thus preventing wear to a considerable degree, and promoting economy of operation.

We do not limit our invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a printing press having a printing couple and having an ink fountain roll driven by said couple, a uni-directional drive for said roll, comprising a drive shaft adapted to be driven in opposite directions; a pair of rotatable members; oppositely acting clutch means causing one rotatable member to be driven by the drive shaft when rotating in either direction; and means connecting the rotatable members and fountain roll whereby the fountain roll will be rotated in one constant direction by either rotatable memher.

2. In a press as set forth in claim 1, an oiltight housing for lubricant enclosing said drive shaft, rotatable members, clutch means and connecting means.

3. In a printing press having a printing couple and having an ink fountain roll shaft driven by said couple; a uni-directional drive for said roll shaft comprising a drive shaft adapted to be driven in opposite directions; a pair of rotatable hub members journaled on said drive shaft; oppositely acting clutch means in the respective hubs for causing rotation of one of said hubs as the drive shaft is rotated in either direction; and means connecting the hubs and roll shaft whereby the roll shaft will be rotated in one constant direction as the drive shaft is rotated in either direction.

4. In a press as set forth in claim 3, an oiltight housing for lubricant enclosing said drive shaft, rotatable hub members, clutch means, and connecting means.

5. In a press as set forth in claim 3, said clutch means comprising tapered recesses in the bores of each hub member, said recesses tapering in opposite directions in the said respective gears; and rollers in said recesses adapted to lock the related gear to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a direction to cause binding of the rollers in the recesses.

6. In a printing press having a printing couple and having an ink fountain roll shaft driven by said couple; a uni-directional drive for said roll comprising a pair of gears on the shaft: a drive shaft adapted to be driven in opposite directions; a second pair of gears journaled on said drive shaft and driven by the first pair of gears; means for causing the second pair of gears to be rotated in opposite directions; and oppositely acting clutch means connecting the respective gears of the second pair with the drive shaft, whereby one ear of the second pair will be positively rotated with the drive shaft when the latter is rotating in either direction, thereby rotating the fountain roll in one constant direction.

"I. In a press as set forth in claim 6, :an oiltight housing for lubricant enclosing said first pair of gears, said drive shaft, said second pair of gears, said clutch means, and said means for causing the second pair of gears to be rotated in opposite directions.

8. In a press as set forth in claim 6, said clutch means comprising tapered recesses in the bores of each gear of the second pair, said recesses tapering in opposite directions in the said respective gears; and rollers in said recesses adapted to lock the related gear to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a direction to cause binding of the rollers in their recesses.

9. In a printing press having a printing couple and having an ink fountain roll shaft driven by said couple; a uni-directional drive for said shaft comprising a pair of gears on the shaft; a drive shaft adapted to be driven in opposite directions; a second pair of gears journaled :on said drive shaft; one gear of one pair meshing with one gear of the other pair; an idler gear interposed between the other gears of the pairs; and oppositely acting clutching means connecting the respective gears of the second pair with the drive shaft, whereby one gear of the second pair will be positively rotated with the drive shaft when the latter is rotating in either direction, thereby rotating the fountain roll in one constant direction.

10. In a press as set forth in claim 9, an oiltight housing for lubricant enclosing said first pair of gears, said drive shaft, said secon pair of gears, said clutch means, and said idler gear.

11. In a press as set forth in claim 9, said clutch means comprising tapered recesses in the bores of each gear of the second pair, said recesses tapering in opposite directions in the said respective gears; and rollers in said recesses adapted to lock the related gear to the drive shaft when the driveshaft is rotated in a direction to cause binding of the rollers in their recesses.

12. In a printing press having an ink fountain roll supplying ink to a printing couple rotatable in opposite directions; a uni-directional drive for the fountain roll comprising a pair of gears on the shaft; a drive shaft driven by the printing couple; a second pair of gears journaled on said drive shaft and driven by the first pair of gears; means for causing the second pair of gears to be rotated in opposite directions; and oppositely acting clutch means connecting the respective gears of the second pair with the drive shaft, whereby one gear of the second pair will be positively rotated with the drive shaft when the latter is rotating in either direction, thereby rotating the fountain roll in one constant direction.

13. In a press as set forth in claim 12, an oiltight housing for lubricant enclosing said first pair of gears, said drive shaft, said second pair of gears, said clutch means, and said means for causing the second pair of gears to b rotated in opposite directions.

14. In a press as set forth in claim 12, said clutch means comprising tapered recesses in the bores of each gear of the second pair, said recesses tapering in opposite directions in the said respective gears; and rollers in said recesses adapted to lock the related gear to the driv shaft when the driv shaft is rotated in a direction to cause binding of the rollers in their recesses.

15. In a printing press having an ink fountain roll supplyin ink to a printing couple rotatable in opposite directions; a uni-directional drive for the fountain roll comprising a pair of gears on the shaft; a drive shaft driven by th printing couple; a second pair; of gears journaled on said drive shaft and driven by the first pair of gears;

one gear of one pair meshing with one gear of the other pair; an idler gear interposed between the other gears of the pairs; and oppositely acting clutch means connecting the, respective gears of the second pair with the drive shaft, whereby one gear of the second pair will be positively rotated with the drive shaft when the latter is rotating in either direction, thereby rotating the fountain roll in one constant direction.

16; In a press as set forth in claim :15, an oila :tight housing for lubricant enclosing said first 10 to cause binding of th rollersin their recesses.

JAM as L. BLACKLEY. WILLIAM P. v. ROSS. 

